Tar sands supertankers on the St. Lawrence: threat to Quebec's drinking water?

Posted 28 Sep 2014

Equiterre is disturbed to learn that supertankers carrying tar sands crude have arrived on the St. Lawrence River.

In addition to promoting development in the tar sands, this kind of transport puts the St. Lawrence River – which supplies 43% of Quebecers with their drinking water – at risk of a heavy crude oil spill.

According to one Radio-Canada report, less than 20% of the crude oil could be recovered in the event of a spill. Currently, municipalities along the river would not be prepared to respond to a spill.